Push button door switch



y 1966 J. LONG 3,249,726

PUSH BUTTON DOOR SWITCH Filed Feb. 15, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 3, 1966J. LONG 3,249,726

PUSH BUTTON DOOR SWITCH Filed Feb. 15, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 44 a)! m aA if i 1 7 T T 7/ 2, 1a 14 M j; (5; j? Z5 1/ j ,5 1 i L, 3' c 4 EE- 7 1/Ill/Ill v INVENTOR.

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PUSH BUTTON DOOR SWITCH Filed Feb. 15, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR-fid er A0 77 BY W *Phlc.

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PUSH BUTTON DOOR SWITCH Filed Feb. 15, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I E 1 I EINVENTOR.

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3,249,726 PUSH BUTTON DOOR SWITCH Jasper Long, Sturgis, Mich., assignorto Wade Electric Products Co., Sturgis, Mich., a corporation of MichiganFiled Feb. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 173,537 11 Claims. (Cl. 200-159) Thisinvention relates to electrical switches and more particularly to animproved plunger-type switch.

While it will be obvious as this description proceeds that the switch ofthis invention may be employed in various environments, it findsparticular utility when used in connection with the door of anautomobile to close a circuit to the dome light of the vehicle when thedoor is open.

It is an object of this invention to provide a switch of this typecomprising a minimum number of parts, the principal ones of which may beproduced by simple molding operations and which, together with the metalterminal parts, may be easily and quickly assembled so that the wholedevice is susceptible of the mass production employed in themanufacture'of automobile parts.

This invention accomplishes the foregoing and other objects by means ofa construction wherein the various parts can be manufactured quickly andeasily in large quantities with simple tooling. In order to adapt thecomponent parts of the switch to simple tooling and facile assembly,special structural features are incorporated which features will becomeapparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a separated perspective view of a switch constructed inaccordance with this invention,

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view as viewed from the right in FIG. 3,

FIG. 3 is a longitudinally sectional view through the switch takensubstantially on the plane indicated by line 3-3 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a longitudinally sectional view through the switch takensubstantially on the plane indicated by line 44 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the planeindicated by line 55 in FIG. 3,

FIG. 6 is a'detail sectional view taken on line 66 in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the front or inner housing part asviewed from the left in FIGS. 3 and 4,

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of the rear or outer housing part asviewed from the right in FIGS. 3 and 4,

FIG. 9 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the planeindicated by line 99 in FIG. 7,

FIG. 10 is a detail sectional view taken on the plane indicated by line10--10 in FIG. 7,

FIG. 11 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the planeindicated by line 11-11 in FIG. 8,

FIG. 12.is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the planeindicated by line 1212 in FIG. 8,

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 13-13 in FIG.11,

FIG. 14 is an elevational view as seen from the left in FIG. 11, and

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken United StatesPatent 0 bile body) to secure the switch in place.

or tubular body portion 21.

hereinafter referred to as the outer or rear housing part. These housingparts and the plunger may advantageously be formed of a resilientthermoplastic material such as the material sold under the trade nameDelrin, which is a highly stable crystalline form of polymerizedformaldehyde. Obviously, however, other types of plastic materials maybe employed, if desired. Parts 10 and 11' are so designed .that they canbe manufactured by molding operations by the use of simple molds; thatis, molds having only axially-extending core portions to form thevarious internal and external shoulders and grooves. The same is true ofthe plunger 12. The designis of such a nature as to take advantage ofthe characteristics of resilient thermoplastic materials thus enablingthe parts to be mass produced inexpensively, with a minimum of initialtooling expense, and to be easily and quickly assembled.

The front housing part 10 comprises a front face plate portion 20 and anaxially-extending generally cylindrical The front face plate portion 20is formed with a plurality of reversely tapered resilient fingers 22which engage an opening 23 in a supporting panel 24 (which may be thedoor jamb of an automo- The periphery of the front face portion 20 isextended and formed with a lip portion 25 which engages and sealsagainst the supporting panel 24 to render the switch splash proof. Asponge rubber gasket 26 is preferably interposed between the face plateportion 20 and the panel 24.

The front housing 10 is formed with an aperture 27 through which theplunger 12 passes and this aperture 27 is sealed by a gasket 28 held inplace by a retainer ring 29 provided with fingers 30 which engage ingrooves 31 formed in the housing. The fingers 30 may be set by a punchtocause the fingers to dig into the housing to permanently secure thegasket 28 in place. 4

The reference character 35 indicates two contact terminals and 36indicates a ground terminal formed of electri-' cal conducting materialsuch as bronze or brass. Each terminal member 35 is provided with a wideportion 37 adapted to slidably engage in opposed undercut grooves 38 inthe housing to slidably attach the terminal member to the housing.Dimpled projections 37 may be provided to give a friction fit in thegrooves 38. The inner narrow end of each terminal member is bentinwardly substantially on the plane indicated by line 1515 in to form aspringcontact portion 39 and the other end of each terminal member isprovided with an outwardly- :bowed, resilient return-bent portion 40,the bight'of which is indicated by the reference character 40.

The ground terminal 36 is also slidably engaged with the body in similarundercut grooves 38, and may be provided with dimpled projections 36 togive a friction fit in the grooves 38. The ground terminal 36 has aninwardly bent spring contact portion 41 and a resilient return-bentportion 42 forming a bight portion 42 The free end of the return-bentportion 42 is bowed outwardly and is provided with lateral flanges 43provided with de tents or prongs 44. These prongs 44 serve to scrape anypaint or foreign material off of the edge of the opening 23 in the panelwhen the device is mounted so that a good contact may be made therewith.

Both the terminals 35 and the ground terminal 36 are, as stated,slidably engaged with the housing 10, through the open end thereof, bymeans of the undercut grooves 38. The end of the tubular or cylindricalbody portion 21 is provided with notches 45 to receive the bights 40 ofthe return-bent portion 40. These notches prevent lateral shifting ofthe terminal members 35 and cooperate with the rear housing to hold theterminal members in place in a manner yet to be referred to. The housingpart 21 is also provided with a deep notch 46 to receive the bightportion 42 of the return-bent portion 42 of the ground terminal for thesame purpose.

The inner end of the plunger 12 is provided with resilient fingers 50provided with tapered shoulders 51 over which a contact ring 52 ofelectrical conducting material is snapped. When thus positioned, thecontact ring 52 is held between the shoulders 51 and annular shouldermembers 53 formed on the plunger. The contact ring 52 in the closedposition of the switch is adapted to engage the contact portions 39 ofthe terminals 35 and the contact portion 41 of the ground terminal 36.The rear or outer housing part 11 is provided with a recess 60' toreceive one end of a spring 61, the other end being seated in a bore 62in the plunger 12. The spring 61 normally biases the plunger into itscircuit closing position.

The generally cylindrical part 65 of the housing member 11 is providedwith axially-extending slots 66 through which male terminal contactblades (not shown) may be inserted to make contact with the return-bentportions 40 of the terminals 35 to connect the switch into the circuit.

The inner face of the tubular portion 65 of the housing part 11 isformed with grooves 67 forming continuations of the slots 66 to receivethe terminal blades.

If it is desired to lock the plunger 12 in its depressed or off positionso that the circuit to the light or lights will not be closed when thedoor is opened, means are provided for accomplishing this. For thispurpose, the groove 83, see FIGS. 3, 7, 9 and 10, is provided with alaterally offset portion 84 forming a shoulder 85 at one side of thegroove 83. The plunger 12 is locked in off position by depressing ituntil the lug or tongue 82 is opposite the offset portion 184 and thenrotating the plunger clockwise to move the lug or tongue 82 into theolfset portion 84 beyond the shoulder 85 whereupon the spring 61 willhold the plunger locked in its off position. The plunger 12 may bereleased by rotating it in a counterclockwise direction.

The housing part 11 is provided with an annular shoulder 70 which, whenthe housing parts are assembled, engages the bights 40 of thereturn-bent portions of the terminals to hold the terminals in notches45 and grooves 38. The housing is also provided with a thickened portion71 forming a shoulder 72 which engages in the deep notch 46 to engagethe bight 42 of the return-bent portion 42 of the ground terminal 36 tohold the ground terminal in assembled position.

For holding the housing parts in permanently assembled relation, thefront housing part 10 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposedprojections 73 adapted to engage apertures 74 in the housing part 11.

After the housing parts are assembled, these projections 73 will extendbeyond the housing part 11 as indicated in dotted lines at 73 in FIG. 3.jecting portions are heat softened and distorted to form heads 75 tofirmly hold the housing parts in assembled relation.

For temporarily holding the housing parts assembled before thispermanent connection is made, the rear housing part 11 is provided witha shoulder portion 76 (see FIGS. and 6) adapted to snap into a recess 77formed in the housing part 10.

For rotatably aligning the housing parts and 11 during the assemblyoperation, the front housing part 10 is provided with alongitudinally-extending groove 80 adapted to be engaged by acomplementary rib 81 formed on the rear housing part 11.

For aligning and guiding the plunger 12, the plunger is provided with alaterally-extending lug or tongue 82' adapted to engage alongitudinally-extending groove 83 formed in the body part 10.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the switchconsists of a minimum number of parts comprising a plunger, a fronthousing part and a rear housing part, which may be manufactured from asuitable thermoplastic material such as Delrin; two con- Thereupon, thepro- .in the following manner:

The front housing 10-is located with the front face portion 20downwardly and the sealing gasket 28 is dropped into place and the brassretainer 29 is dropped over the seal 28 whereupon the fingers 30 areupset by a punch so as to dig into the adjacent body portion topositively retain the seal in place. Next, the two terminal members'35and the ground terminal 36 are slidably engaged with the respectiveundercut grooves 38. The plunger 12 with which the contact 52 has beenassembled and the spring 61 are put into place by inserting the samefrom the right-hand end of the housing 10 as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4with the tongue 82 in engagement with the slot 83. Thereupon, the rearhousing is telescoped over the front housing with the aligning grooveand rib -81 in registration. When these housing parts are completelyassembled, the shoulder portion 76 will engage the recess 77 to hold theparts assembled while permanent assembly is effected. As the housingparts are assembled, the projections 73 will pass through the apertures74 to extend outwardly beyond the housing part 11 as indicated at 73* inFIG. 3. Thereupon, these parts are heat sealed by heating the projectingends 73 sufficiently to soften them so that they may be deformed intoheads 75 to permanently connect the housing parts together.

In the embodiment of the invention hereinbefore described, two terminalmembers 35 and a ground terminal 36 have been shown. However, it will beunderstood that the switch may be used with one terminal 35 and theground terminal 36, or with two terminals 35 in which the groundterminal 36 may be eliminated; or, the switch may be used with twoterminals 35 and the ground terminal 36 in which event two separatecircuits may be controlled.

While one practical and commercially acceptable form of the inventionhas been described and illustrated herein in detail, it will beunderstood that various changes may be made as may come within thepurview of the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch adapted to be mounted in an opening in a supporting panelcomprising only two housing parts consisting of, a front housing partforming a chamber having an open end, a rear housing part adapted totelescope over said front housing part to close said open end, aterminal member in said chamber connected to said front housing part,resilient fingers integral with said front housing part for snap-inengagement with the opening in said panel to support said switch, meanson said rear housing part for securing said terminal member in place,and interengaging means on-said housing parts for holding said housingparts assembled.

2. A switch as described in claim 1 in which the switch supporting meanscomprises axially-extending reversely tapered resilient fingers on saidfront housing part adapted to snap into the opening in said panel.

3. A switch as described in claim 1 in which the means for holding saidhousing parts assembled comprises a projection on one housing partadapted to extend through an aperture in the other housing part when thehousing parts are assembled, the end of said projection being adapEd tobe heat softened and headed to secure said housing parts in assembledrelation.

4. A switch as described in claim 3 in which the projection is on theopen end of said front housing part and the aperture is formed in theend wall of the rear housing part, said housing parts being assembled bytelescoping the rear housing part over the front housing part, andtongue and groove means on said housing parts to rotatively align saidhousing parts whereby said projection will register with said aperture.

5. A switch as described in claim 1 in which the terminal member is aground terminal provided with a re silient return-bent portion havinglaterally-extending prongs adapted, when the switch is mounted, toengage the opening in the supporting panel, to scrape paint and otherforeign material therefrom, whereby a good electrical contact may bemade therewith.

6. A switch as described in claim 1 in which the connection between theterminal member and front housing part comprises a pair of spacedopposed undercut grooves formed on the inner wall of said chamber and anotch in the end of said housing part in alignment with said grooves,said terminal member having a return-bent portion forming a bightportion, said terminal member being slidably engaged in said groovesthrough the open end of said chamber with the bight portion engagingsaid notch, and a shoulder on the rear housing part engaging the bightportion of said terminal member, when said housing parts are assembled,to hold said terminal member in place.

7. A switch adapted to be mounted in an opening in a supporting panelcomprising only two housing parts consisting of, a front housing partforming a chamber having an open end and a closed end, and a rearhousing part adapted to engage said front housing part to close saidopen end, means on said housing parts for directly connecting saidhousing parts together, terminal members in said chamber, means on saidhousing parts and terminal members operable when the housing parts areassembled to hold said terminal members in place, a plunger slidablymounted in said front housing part with its inner end extending intosaid chamber, and a contact member on the inner end of said plungeradapted to electrically connect said terminal members, the inner end ofsaid plunger being provided with a plurality of tapered shoulders overwhich the contact member is snapped into assembled relation.

8. A switch as described in claim 7 in which the closed end of the fronthousing part is provided with a front face plate portion having agenerally axially-extending lip at the periphery thereof adapted toengage the supporting panel when the switch is mounted thereon, and agasket interposed between said face plate and said panel adjacent saidlip to render the switch splash proof.

9. A switch adapted to be mounted in an opening in a supporting panelcomprising only two housing parts consisting of, a front housing partforming a chamber having an open end and a closed end, and a rearhousing part adapted to engage said front housing part to close saidopen end, means on said housing parts for directly connecting saidhousing parts together, terminal members in said chamber, means on saidhousing parts and terminal members operable when the housing parts areassembled to hold said terminal members in place, a plunger slidablymounted in said front housing part with its inner end extending intosaid chamber, a contact member on the inner end of said plunger adaptedto electrically connect said terminal members, the inner end of saidplunger being formed with a plurality of resilient fingers havingtapered shouldered ends and spaced shoulders, and a contact member inthe form of ametallic ring adapted to be snapped over said resilientfingers to a position between said shoulders.

10. A switch adapted to be mounted in an opening in a supporting panelcomprising only two housing parts consisting of, a front housing partforming a chamber having an open end and a closed end, and a rearhousing part adapted to engage said front housing part to close saidopen end, means on said housing parts for directly connecting saidhousing parts together, terminal members in said chamber, means on saidhousing parts and terminal members operable when the housing parts areassembled to hold said terminal members in place, a plunger slidablymounted in said front housing part with its inner end extending intosaid chamber, a contact member on the inner end of said plunger adaptedto electrically connect said terminal members, and a spring biasing saidplunger into circuit closing position, one end of said spring beingseated in an axially-extending bore formed in the plunger and the otherend of said spring being seated in a recess in the rear housing part.-

11. A switch adapted to be mounted in an opening in a supporting panelcomprising only two housing parts consisting of, a front housing partforming a chamber having an open end and a closed end, and a rearhousing part adapted to engage said front housing part to close saidopen end, means on said housing parts for directly connecting saidhousing parts together, terminal members in said chamber, means on saidhousing parts and terminal members operable when the housing parts areassembled to hold said terminal members in place, a plunger slidablymounted in said front housing part with its inner end extending intosaid chamber, a contact member on the inner end of said plunger adaptedto electrically connect said terminal members, said plunger beingprovided with means for locking the switch in off position comprising alaterally extending tongue on said plunger, and a. longitudinallyextending groove formed in said front housing part for slidablyreceiving said tongue, said groove having a laterally offset portion atone side thereof, whereby said plunger may be depressed and rotated tomove said tongue into the offset portion of said groove to thereby holdsaid plunger in said depressed position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,223,673 12/1940Catron 200l68 X 2,523,125 9/1950 Ley ZOO-169 X 2,712,047 6/1955Herterick 200159 2,734,963 2/1956 Ardia 200l68 X 2,740,023 3/ 1956Kryder 200l68 3,045,079 7/1962 Frantz et al 200l68 X KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY,Primary Examiner.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, BERNARD A. GILHEANY,

Examiners.

1. A SWITCH ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED IN AN OPENING IN A SUPPORTING PANELCOMPRISING ONLY TWO HOUSING PARTS CONSISTING OF, A FRONT HOUSING PARTFORMING A CHAMBER HAVING AN OPEN END, A REAR HOUSING PART ADAPTED TOTELESCOPE OVER SAID FRONT HOUSING PART TO CLOSE SAID OPEN END, ATERMINAL MEMBER IN SAID CHAMBER CONNECTED TO SAID FRONT HOUSING PART,RESILIENT FINGERS INTEGRAL WITH SAID FRONT HOUSING PART FOR SNAP-INENGAGEMENT WITH THE OPENING IN SAID PANEL TO SUPPORT SAID SWITCH, MEANSON SAID REAR HOUSING PART FOR SECURING SAID TERMINAL MEMBER IN PLACE,AND INTERENGAGING MEANS ON SAID HOUSING PARTS FOR HOLDING SAID HOUSINGPARTS ASSEMBLED.